Our History

September 1974: Montessori teachers Cynthia Leahy and Naseem Meer hold the first Montessori preschool class between San Jose and Berkeley in a rented classroom at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fremont, CA.

What started in that rented Sunday school classroom has grown to over 6 locations throughout the East Bay. Cynthia and Naseem have overseen the education of more then 5,000 children. The family of schools that began with two women in a rented classroom now employs over 100 people and cares for more than 500 students daily.

In 1989 with the overall success of their Fremont program Cynthia and her colleagues decide to offer high quality Montessori education to the Newark community. The location at 35660 Cedar Boulevard, with its convenient location, and close proximity to Newark parks and community centers, provided the perfect setting. Since it's inception the Montessori School in Newark has provided high quality care for children through out the area, with several of it's teachers going on to become directors and leaders within the Montessori West family of schools. If you are looking for the ideal small school environment with the attentive and intimate care you need, look no further.

The children in the photo above are now in their mid forties. They include a physician, two attorneys, six engineers, a real estate executive and a college professor.